Table with reversible center section



Dec. 20, 1955 J. M. CAMPO 2,

TABLE WITH REVERSIBLE CENTER SECTION Filed June 30, 1953 /5 2 38 .5 g 2a /7 a //W I. 3\ 11 a 20 H 7 MM) 1 7 /2 y /2 M27 1 1 I J Jose /r P7. C'ampo Alia/neg United States Patent TABLE WITH REVERSIBLE CENTER SECTION Joseph M. Campo, North Hollywood, Calif., assignor of one-half to Marvin H. Swartz, Hollywood, Calif.

Application June 30, 1953, Serial No. 364,988

4 Claims. (Cl. 31135) My invention relates to a convertible table having a reversible intermediate section which enables use of the table for a number of diiferent purposes. When the intermediate section of the table is in one position, referred to as the normal position, it appears to have a continuous flat top, and may at this time be used in the manner of an ordinary table. However, when the intermediate section is reversed, a working area is brought into a position for use.

The invention is of special utility in connection with kitchen tables, and in the present disclosure will be described as such, although it will be recognized that the invention may be employed in other types of tables. In this embodiment of the invention, reversal of the intermediate section brings a pastry board into operative position, 50' that the user of the table is provided with a board of ample size on which to work up dough and prepare the same for pastry or bread, etc.

-It is an object of the invention to provide a table having a top consisting of horizontal rectangular spaced end sections and an intermediate section, wherein the intermediate section extends full width of the table and wherein the end sections are connected by means which are normally concealed by' the table top, but which enable the swinging of the intermediate section through an angle of 180 from normal position to inverted position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a table of the character described wherein the end sections are also connected by a bar which serves as a hinge for the intermediate section and by a rear skirt beam which extends from the upper end of one rear leg of the table to the other rear leg.

A further object of the invention is to provide the intermediate section with a working board disposed below the top plate of the intermediate section, on the side of the hinge bar opposite from the top plate, so that when the intermediate section is swung into inverted position the working board will be above the portion of the hinge bar' which extends through the-intermediate section. Simple means are provided for locking the intermediate section in its two positions of utility.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification wherein I have described the details of a preferred embodiment of the invention for the purpose of making a complete disclosure without the intention to limit the scope of the invention set forth by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing which is for illustrative purposes only:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of my table;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, to enlarged scale, taken through the table as indicated by the line 22 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken as indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; 1

Fig. 4 is a cross-section similar to Fig. 3 but showing the intermediate section of the table in reversed position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section to enlarged scale, taken as indicated by the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 and showing the manner in which the intermediate section is latched to an end section in one position thereof.

The table shown in Fig. 1 has end sections 10 and 11 provided with supporting means shown as rear legs 12 and front legs 13. The end sections 10 and 11 each have a rectangular top plate 15 supported by the legs in spaced relation and in a common horizontal plane. In the space between the end sections 10 and 11 there is an intermediate section 16 having a rectangular top plate 17 which is aligned with the top plates 15 when the intermediate section is in its first position, shown in Figs. 1,2 and 3. It will be understood that the top plates '15 and 17, cooperating to form a continuous table top, may be made of any desired material depending upon the use intended for the table. In some instances it may be made from fine, polished hardwood, and in other instances, it may be made of less expensive materials. Between the two end sections 10 and 11, near the rear edge 18 of the table, there is a depending skirt beam 19, the ends of which are rigidly secured to the rear legs 12 and are likewise firmly attached to the lower face of the top plates 15. The member 19, accordingly, extends across the rear portion of the space between the end sec:

tions 10 and 11, rigidly securing the same together. The member 19, being positioned against the lower faces of the plates 15 and 17, is concealed when the table is viewed in Fig. l. The intermediate and lower portions of the legs are not interconnected by cross-bracing. Side beams 20 and 21, similar in cross sectional shape to the member 19 are respectively extended between the upper ends of legs 12 and 13 to which they are secured, and they are likewise secured respectively to the top plates i the end sections 10 and 11. Skirt members 22 are extended downwardly from the top plates 15 adjacent the front edge 23 of the table, and from the inner ends 24 of the members 22 beams 25 are extended under the edges 26 of thetop plates 15 to the skirt beam 19. The members 25 are parallel to the members 20 and 21 and are secured to the top plates 15 and to the members 19 and 22.

' A longitudinal bar 27, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, definesthe axis of rotation for the intermediate section 16 and is extended from the skirt member 20 through the beams 25 and through the skirt member 21, and is rigidly connected to these parts so as to provide a rigid connecting means for the end sections 10 and 11. On the leftward end of the bar 27, Fig. 2, a flange 28 is fixed, and this flange is secured to the inner face of the member 20 by screws 29.

Bolts 30 are extended through the beam members 25 and the bar 27 so as to provide a rigid connection for these parts. The other end 31 of the bar 27 passes through a flange 32 which is fixed on the inner surface of the mem'-' ber 21, and projects through the member 21 so as to leave an engageable portion. I A pin 33 rigidly connectsthe bar 27 to the flange32. Should it be desired to remove the bar 27 so as to remove the intermediate section '16,

the bolts 30 may be unscrewed and removed, and after As shown in Fig. 3, the rear portion 35 of the top plate 17 extends over the intermediate portion of the skirt beam 19 and rests thereon. Near the front edge 36 of the top plate 17 and intermediate skirt member 22a is secured to the lower face of the plate 17 so as to occupy a. position between the inner ends 24 of the skirt membersv 22 of the end sections 10 and 11. Side members 37, Figs. 2 and 3, are extended downwardly from the edges 38 of the top plate 17 which are contiguous to the edges 26 of the top plates 15. The front ends of the members 37 are connected to the intermediate skirt member 22a as shown in Fig. 3, but the rear ends 39 of the member 37 are spaced inwardly from the rear ends 18 of the plate 17 so thatthey do not engage the skirt beam 19. The members 37 have openings 40 through which portions of the bar 27 extend. A- working board 41 is extended between the members 37 in; a plane parallel to the top plate 17 but on the opposite side of the bar 27 from the top plate 17, so that the bar 27 extends through the intermediate section 16 between the top plate 17 and the working board 41.

The intermediate section is locked in its normal position, shown in Figs. 1-, 2 and 3 by a concealed slide bolt 43 arranged under the front edge of the table top as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. When use of the working board 41 is desired, the slide bolt 43 may be released and the intermediate section 16 may be rotated in clockwise direction from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 3 through the position shown in phantom lines 16 to the inverted position thereof shown in Fig. 4, the workingboard 41 being then faced upwardly in the space between the end sections 10 and 11. It will be noted that the bar 27 is not centralized between the front and rear edges 35 and 36', Fig. 3, but is oifsetslightly toward the front edge of the table, so that when the intermediate section 16 is rotated into reversed position as shown in Fig. 4, the skirt member 22a will be olfset forwardly (rightwardly) from interconnecting means for the end sections 10 and 11 which is formed by the skirt beam 19. The intermediate section 16 has locking means, shown as slide bolts 47, for locking it in inverted position, these slide bolts being adapted for actuation outwardly into openings in the ends of the skirt members 22, as indicated by dotted lines 48 in Fig. 3. When the intermediate section 16 is inverted, the longitudinal edges 50 of the members 37 lie along and protect the edges 26 of the top plates 15.

I claim:

1. In a table: a pair of end sections having legs extending downwardly, each of said sections having a rectangular top plate, there being a space between said top plates; legs extending downwardly from said plates and being solely supported by connections between their upper ends and said end sections; means for connecting said sections together in spaced relation comprising a bar extending across the space between said sections and a connecting member extending across the space between said sections at the rear of said table and being directly connected to said top plates, the space between the front portions of said end sections being unobstructed; an intermediate section in the space between said end sections having means for engaging said bar so that it may rotate around said bar through an angle of substantially 180, said intermediate section having a top plate which fills said space between said top plates of said. end sections, covers said connecting member and aligns with said top plates of said end sections when said intermediate section is in onepos'ition, and having a work board positioned along the back face of the top plate of said intermediate section so that when said intermediate section is rotated. around said bar said work plate will face upwardly the rear edge of said working plate being spaced inwardly from the rear edge of said top plate of said intermediate section so as to clear said connecting member; and means for locking said intermediate section with relation to said end sections.

2. In a table: a pair of end sections having legs extending downwardly, each of said sections having a rectangular top plate, there being a space between said top plates; legs extending downwardly from said plates and being solely supported by connections between their upper ends and said end sections; means for connecting said sections together in spaced relation comprising a member extending across the space between said sections at the rear of said 4 space of the table, the ends of said member being rigidly connected to said end sections adjacent the rear edges thereof; an intermediate section in the space between said end sections; longitudinal pivot means on said end members supporting said intermediate section so that it will rotate through an angle of substantially 180, said intermediate section having a top plate which fills said space between said top plates of said end sections, covers said connecting member and aligns with said top plates of said end sections when said intermediate section is in one position, and having a work board postioned along the back face of the top plate of said intermediate section so that when said intermediate section is rotated around said bar said work plate will face upwardly the rear edge of said working plate being spaced inwardly from the rear edge of said top plate of said intermediate section so as to clear said connecting member; and means for locking said intermediate section with relation to said end sections.

3. In a dual purpose table: a pair of rectangular end sections in spaced relation, each of said end sections having a rectangular top plate, there being a space between said top plates; means for connecting said end sections together comprising a connecting member extending across the rear of said space and under said top plates, said member being directly connected to said top plates; an intermediate section in the space between said end sections, saidintermediate section having a top plate which aligns with the top plates of said end sections and covers said connecting member when said intermediate section is in one position; a working board on the back of the top plate of the intermediate section; and pivot means conmeeting the intermediate portions of said intermediate section and said end sections so that said intermedate section may be rotated on a longitudinal axis extending from one of said end sections to the other through an angle of substantially 180 to a position wherein said work board will be in apositionfacing upwardly between said end sections, said Working; board having its front and rear edges positioned at a distance from said pivot means less than the distance of said connecting member from pivot means.

4. In a dual purpose table: a pair of rectangular end sections in spaced relation, eachof said end sections having-a rectangular top plate, there being a space between said top plates; legs extending down from said top plates, solely supported by connections between their upper ends and said end sections; means for connecting said end sections together comprising a slender connecting member extending across the rear of said space and being directly connected to said top plates; an intermediate section in the space between said end sections, said intermediate section having a top plate which aligns with the top plates of said end sections and covers said connecting member when said intermediate section is in one postion; a working board on the back of the top plate of the intermediate section; and pivot means connecting the intermediate portions of said intermediate section and said end sections so that said intermediate section may be rotated on a longitudinalaxis extending from one of said end sections to the other through an angle of substantially 180 to a position wherein said work board will be in a position facing upwardly between said end sections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,652,774 Fraser et al Dec. 13, 1927 1,956,265 Baker Apr. 24, 1934 1,973,179 Schwerin et al Sept. 11, 1934 2,240,395 Evans Apr. 29, 1941 2,461,715 Big'ge'rstaff Feb. 15, 1949 2,495,250 Gilly Jan. 24, 1950 2,528,935 Williams Nov. 7, 1950 

